These two foodies have made the Philippines proud

A big congratulations to chef Margarita Manzke and content creator Erwan Heussaff for winning the prestigious titles of Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and Best Social Media Account, respectively. These two Filipino foodies are deeply invested in the F&B industry, from two totally different perspectives. 

From inside the kitchen, communicating through food, to telling captivating stories about cuisine and the industry, these two talents have made their names known. Their meaningful work has caught the attention of the dining world, and this year, they have been lauded by one of the most prestigious groups in the industry. 

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Tatler Asia

Margarita Manzke

The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees, Leadership Award winners, and Humanitarian of the Year and Lifetime Achievement honourees were celebrated at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation said: “The James Beard Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional culinary talent, as well as all those doing incredible work on behalf of our communities and wider food system. This year’s nominees, winners, and honorees are inspiring exemplars of that.” 

The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards were originally established in 1990 and has since maintained its dedication to applauding excellence “across a range of experiences, from fine-dining establishments to casual gems, and emerging talents to established leaders.”

The category of Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker recognises a chef who “demonstrates exceptional skills and can be affiliated with any food business and does not need a brick-and-mortar presence. Candidate contributes positively to their broader community.” 

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Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Republique

This year’s champion, Margarita Manzke is a notable pastry chef and baker who has in fact been nominated for a James Beard award eight times in the past for her spectacular work at République LA. This seasoned gourmand is also co-owner of Wild Flour Bakery + Café Corp with her husband chef Walter Manzke and her sister Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo. Prior to heading up the pastry kitchen at République, Margarita worked in top kitchens like Patina, Spago, Mélisse and Bastide, plus opened a slew of restaurants with her husband chef Walter: Bouchée, Cantinetta Luca and l’Auberge Carmel, Petty Cash Taqueria, Sari Sari Store too.

Aside from her hands-on work in the kitchen, Margarita has also authored a cookbook called Baking at République. At this LA hotspot, chef Margarita concocts pastries and baked goods that keep patrons coming back for more. Here, the love she has for her craft and her strong grasp on flavour paired with technique has turned heads and this year, earned her the 2023 Outstanding Pastry Chef Award.

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Erwan Heussaff

The Broadcast Media Awards, held this year in Chicago, was first created in 1993 by the James Beard Foundation were established in 1993. 

“From podcasts to reality TV to documentaries, this year’s Broadcast Media winners entertained, educated, and connected us through the lens of food and beverage,” said Cynthia Graubart, chair of the James Beard Foundation’s Broadcast Media Awards program. The foundation’s CEO Clare Reichenbach added that "it is an honour to celebrate such an inspiring group of storytellers, whose work will continue to impact us far beyond today. Similar to the uniting power of food, these winners have connected and captivated us through their words across history, people, and place.” 

The foundation explains that the Social Media award “recognises excellence in a single food-related post, or compilation of up to three posts, that clearly represents the intention of the Facebook page, Twitter account, TikTok account, Instagram feed, or other social media format.”

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Erwan bested the competition for his work showcasing regional Filipino cuisine, and masterfully produced food content on his Instagram page. The content creator is the founder of The Fat Kid Inside (his production house) and FEATR, its YouTube channel dedicated to telling food and travel stories from documentaries, to recipe content and even cooking competitions too. 

In his acceptance speech, Heussaff said that the award “means absolutely everything because it motivates me further to keep shining a light on our beautiful country, our beautiful people, and the food that's made in our kitchens."

Both these Filipino talents have made us all quite proud through their perseverance, absolute love for their craft, and continued efforts to uplift the F&B community both here and globally too. 

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